Eldritch Horror Theatre

”As expected, you can never underestimate the Night Watchers’ efficiency. So, is he dead?”

The barrage of information Madam Thirteen had tossed out was genuinely shocking. While Fu Qian praised them, he immediately cut to the point.

”Didn’t I say he was executed?”

Facing such a cautious confirmation, Madam Thirteen didn’t look the least bit surprised. She just asked back with a smile.

”But you also said he underwent a special transcendent mutation. I was worried the execution might not have gone smoothly because of it.”

As he spoke, the gash on Fu Qian’s chest completely smoothed over, leaving only a row of seven small holes.

”The changes in his body were indeed very special. It was as if the things he ate hadn’t digested, but floated all the way up to the surface of his skin instead.”

Showing absolutely none of Fu Qian’s concern, Madam Thirteen described it vividly.

”He even grew a wing on his back. Made entirely of those things, of course.”

”He was extremely difficult to deal with. Anyone who came into contact with him suffered corruption to their fundamental self, just like the casualties in the hospital...””It sounds like there’s a ’but’ coming.”

As she paused, Fu Qian chimed in seamlessly.

”Correct. But you don’t need to worry at all, because the one responsible for the execution was a Demigod.”

Madam Thirteen caught his remark effortlessly, and in the next moment, she spoke, never resting until her words astonished.

”What made you so certain that the Night Watchers only have one Demigod in Loss?”

Seeing Fu Qian’s face grow completely cold, Madam Thirteen laughed even more heartily.

”I know it’s standard practice, but like I said earlier, your biggest problem is arrogance.”

”If you hadn’t been in such a rush, and had stirred up a little trouble first to draw out the Night Watchers’ full strength, you might have discovered this earlier.”

”In short, based on the feedback I just received, I am absolutely certain that Your Excellency’s destiny will not be arriving. From here on out, you might need to reconsider your life plans.”

”You’d better be quick about it, though. You don’t have much time left. Of course, you could also keep waiting here to confirm whether I’m telling the truth.”

...

Reconsider his destiny... Another Demigod who might arrive.

He had to admit, this explanation was quite meaningful. It answered the only question Fu Qian cared about.

Actually, a lot of what Madam Thirteen said was correct. For instance, he had come here to intentionally expose himself and draw them out.

That included his flawless cooperation with Raylan afterward.

Step by step, he had led the Night Watchers to believe they had the situation firmly under control. Combined with the shocking discoveries regarding Rick and the collateral damage to civilians, he had pushed them to take slightly riskier actions to get to the bottom of things as quickly as possible.

Of course, when Mr. Rick was remotely driven over to test his strength, the ”flaw” he accidentally exposed was finally seen through by the shrewd Chief Thirteen. At the critical moment—hanging by a single hair—she had called off the delivery to their doorstep.

Furthermore, given the excessively alarming strength he displayed, they chose to completely eliminate the hidden danger out of absolute caution.

Throughout this series of operations, the Night Watchers had performed quite well. The only problem was that, after witnessing the scene in the hospital, Fu Qian had some doubts about whether their execution would go smoothly.

That mysterious creature with a somewhat draconic appearance hadn’t revealed its true body, but its Rank was clearly not low.

In fact, Fu Qian felt that thing was more likely the true target of his trip.

This was why, even though the mission hadn’t been completed, he still believed Madam Thirteen’s words. He believed the completely mutated Mr. Rick had already been executed.

Observing the situation thus far, it was clear that Mr. Rick held a highly unusual significance to that mysterious creature.

Most obviously, regarding this pollution ravaging Loss, Rick seemed to be the only node capable of spreading it.

Eroding the existence of surrounding creatures to expand the scope of the ”self”—if the mysterious creature really was the source of the sin plague, then Rick was essentially its gold-medal tool.

As for why he could deduce this so effortlessly, the reason was actually quite simple.

Defining and collecting special concepts was standard practice for a covenant.

Although, based on his fleeting glimpse earlier, Fu Qian didn’t think that thing was some ancient higher entity, it didn’t matter. Fu Qian never believed it was the one who initiated the covenant in the first place.

Mr. Rick’s unusual behavior had started several years ago; it had merely become excessively intense recently.

Therefore, if his changes truly stemmed from some special covenant, Fu Qian was more inclined to believe that the mysterious creature was an unexpected harvest Rick had reaped while spreading the pollution after establishing the covenant.

An incredible thing he had discovered while continuously scavenging along the way.

Although the latter hadn’t escaped the fate of being polluted, due to its own high Rank, it had faintly turned the tables, attempting to reap benefits from Mr. Rick’s ”self.”

Right now, this was still just a hypothesis. But if it was true, Rick was undoubtedly incredibly important to it. It would definitely do everything in its power to protect him, meaning it wouldn’t be easy for the Night Watchers to kill him.

Now, it seemed he no longer needed to worry about that.

...

”No need. I trust the Night Watchers’ credibility. Besides, there doesn’t seem to be any need to run, right?”

The next moment, the ”foiled schemer” Fu Qian waved his hand casually, even highlighting his own contributions.

”Looking at the whole matter in its entirety, doesn’t it mean I’m not only faultless, but I’ve actually done a great service?”

”Not only did I help the Night Watchers discover a dangerous element and prevent an impending disaster, but I also didn’t harm a single civilian throughout the entire process.”

”There’s a saying in my hometown: judge actions not intent. No matter how you look at it, I should be getting a reward, right?”

”Sure.”

Facing a villain with such an excellent mindset, Chief Thirteen wore a half-smile and actually agreed without hesitation.

”How about I help you register with the Association? That way, you won’t have to keep operating without a license.”

”That is indeed very thoughtful... When will you do it?”

Nodding slightly, Fu Qian seemed extremely satisfied with this considerate suggestion.

”Once you survive the hunt.”

Her tone was still gentle, but unfortunately, the content had taken a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

As she spoke, Thirteen had already drawn her twin guns again, bringing them up to her red lips and blowing gently across the barrels.

And as Fu Qian watched this scene, the traces of another Divine Being also appeared in his perception.

It really was a luxurious lineup of two Demigods.

”Alright, don’t forget next time.”

With a sigh of admiration, completely unbothered by the rapidly deteriorating situation, Fu Qian genuinely accepted the condition.

And with those words, his figure rapidly disappeared.

”You’ve completely erased the traces on your body?”

Madam Thirteen’s smile came to an abrupt halt as she cried out in surprise almost at the exact same time.

Naturally. Did she think his Decree of Return was a joke?

The ”traces” naturally referred to the tracking effect Raylan had left on him earlier. Unfortunately, to Fu Qian, that thing was far from an indelible mark.

Now, it was time to go find the real main target of this trip.